Coin-operated vending-machine.



c. M; LINDE.

` GOIN OPERATBD VELTDINGf` MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1. 1909.

Patented June 8, 1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET l.

O v fraz/eroici? C. M. LINDE.

GOIN OPBRATED YENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION IILIzD I'I:1z.1,v19o9.

' 924,252. Patented June 8, 1909.

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y @gf/@Mmmww c. M. LINDE.

GOIN OPERATEDVENDIN G MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED PEB. 1, 1909.

924,252; Patented June 8, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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CHARLES M. LINDE, -OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HILO GUM COMPANY,OF CHICAGO,

f ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

`-com-OPERATED vENDmGLMAcmNE.

Patented June'8,1uu9.

- Application filed February 1, 1909. Serial No. 475,491.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. LINDE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Coin-OperatedWVending-Machines, of which the following is av specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the class of vending machinesemploying a rotatable measuring-cup' normally registering with theoutlet in the base of a magazine and filled from the contents thereofconsisting of the supply, in bulk, of the article (pea-- nuts,candies,and'the like) to be vended, the cup being normally locked inthat position against rotation to effect em tying it of its contents fordelivery thereof, ut ada ted to be unlocked to permit such rotation tough the medium of an inserted coin of proper denomination.

The object of my invention is to improve, in matters of detailupon acertain vending machine in the class referred to, now on the market, tothe end, more particularly, of protecting it against imfproper or-fraudulent operation, and that o more reliable.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in front elevation ofthe complete machine; Fig. 2 is an enlargedI broken section on line 2,Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a broken section on the rendering its operationirregular line 3, Fig. 2, viewed inthe direction of the arrow, andshowing the parts of the operating mechanism in their normal Epolsition;Fig. LLis a similar view on line4,

2, regarded in the direction of the arrow, but showinglthe parts of theoperating mechanism in t by a partial turn of the shaft and wherein thedelivery-cup is in incomplete registration withthe discharge-openingleading to it from the bottom ofthe magazine; Fig. 5 is a section on theline 5, Fig.` 3, and Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views, respectively,of the segrllliental head and lever coperating therewit The base 8 ofthe machine is a hollow body,

consisting, in practice, .of a malleable casting with a dish 9 near thebottom of its front side, -rinto kwhich the contents of the. cup aredumped for their delivery.` The base, which is closed at its back by akey-locked door (not shown) is surmounted by a magazine 10of'transparent glass, through, which to dise position to which they arebrought play the supply of the commodity, seating about the open top ofthe base and closed at its top by a cap 11 secured in place by boltrods12 screwing into sockets 13 disposed about the base-top, whereby themagazine is clam ed between the latter and the cap.

Al of the operating mechanism is secured on a flanged front-plate 14,which covers the front side of the opening through the base 8 and hasformed on its face to extend transversely thereof an elongatedlever-housing chamber 16 of rectangular cross-section,

4having one end deflected at 17, the chamber being open throughout itslength at the inner face vof the front-plate. A circular coin-insertionopening 18 is yformed in the plate 14 above the chamber 16, and saidvplate also has formed u on itsrear or inner side, near the bottom tereof, at an offset 19, an arch 20 to afford the lip of adischarge-chute, hereinafter described. A shield 21, of the generalinwardly-tapering form represented,

-1s ri idl fastened at its wider, open end to the ac of the front-plateand forms at its lower part, with the arch 20, the dischargechute 22leading to the delivery-dish 9. The

inner, closed end of the tapering` shield carries, centrally, aninternally-threaded nipple 23; and the top of the shield is openlengthwise and registers with the open top of the base 8. An operatingshaft 24, provided on its outer end with a hand-wheel 25, by which toturn it, is journaled in the center of they front-plate and nds bearingat its inner end in a recess 26 in the corresponding end of the nipple23, which abuts against a forked lug 27 dependingfrom' the roof of thebase 8;

and a thumb-screw 28 is passed through the bifurcation in the lug intothe threaded end of the socket to bear against the rear face of the lugand afford a sup ort for the shaft at that end, being secure againstaccidental turning by a set-screw 29. A cup 30 formed a in askeleton-frame 31 of the general tapering form illustrated, surrounds,at the disksha ed heads on the frame-ends, the shaft 24 witliin theshield 21, being secured on the shaft, to turn with the same, by acotter 32 passed through it and through a boss projectmg centrally fromthe outermost-head of the cu device. The cup normally registers fu ywith the opening in the top of the base in order that it mayobe filledby gravity from the magazine; and by turning the cu to empty itscontents, as hereinafter descrl ed, 1

scribedg'and a stop-lug 34 is provided on the plate at one end of thatbearing. Directly above the bearing 33 is rigidly secured on the back ofthe plate 14, below its flange, an arcshaped bar 35 carrying aleaf-spring 36 on one end, a bent finger 37 on its opposite endterminating in a cam 38, and between its ends a finger 39 having adeflected end-section 40 and adjacent to the finger 40 a pawl x41 isloosely ivoted to hang on the bar 35 and is provi ed on its free endwith two 30 14 by a coiled spring 48.

'teeth 42 and 43. A segmental head 44 is secured through its hub 45 by acotter 46 to the shaft 24 in osition to extend at its outer edge below te bar 35, and bevoverlapped, for its confinement, by the fingers 39, 40.On the inner face of this head is formed to extend concentrically withthe hub an opcncollar 47 which is connected from one end with a lug 147on the back of the'plate This'spring, by its connection with the shaft24, tends to hold the cup 30 resiliently in registration with theopening in thc top of the base. On the rear face of the head 44 isformed a segmental ratchet 49 into the path of which the pawl 41depends. One end of this ratchet, at a point beyond its teeth, ispenetrated by a pin 50, which extends entirely throu h the segmentalhead and, in the nor-ma position of 40. the latter, registers with thecenter of the com-insertion opening 18, being resiliently held againstprotruslon beyond the base thereof by a spring 51 engaging the rear endofthe in and fastened at one end to a lug 52 -on the ack ofthe head 44.Adjacent to the pin another, headed, in 53 reciprocably penetrates thesegmental) head, and o is engag'led at the head on its inner end b. tb efree en of a sprin 55 extending from t e lug 52.

50 An arc-shape 'groove 56 1s formed in the `outer face of the head 44concentric with its axis and intersects a circular coin-recess 118therein which registers with the opening 18 when the head is in itsnormal position. The pin 53 projects into the groove 56 at one side ofthe circular recess and the cam 38 extends into the path of the innerend of the pin. At-the opposite side of the circular rez cess 118 atongue 57 (Fig.v 2) projects into the glrxoove 56 from the edge of the.opening .18.

the chamber 16 and conformmg to the general shape thereof is a lever 58of the form most clearly illustrated in Fig. 7. 'It is fulcrumed betweenits ends on a vertical pin, at 59, extending transversely through thechamber and terminates at one end in an angular section 60 presenting atits extremity a shoulder 61 into the path of which the free end of thespring 36 projects; and another shoulder 62 plojects into the path oftwo successive teet 144 and 244 projecting from the inner face of thesegmental head 44 near one end thereof. Upward movement of this end ofthe lever is prevented by the lug 34. The opposite end of the lever 1soffset and extends at an angle to coincide with the deflected end of thechamber 16 and has projecting from its inner face a V-shaped stud 63 inthe path of the groove 56.

In the normal condition of the parts, represented in Fig. 3, wherein thecup 30 is in full registration with the'discharge from the magazine andso held by the sprin 48, (While an end of the segmental head 44 I earsagainst a side of the arch 20 which thus serves as an abutment toprevent undue rotation of the cup by the spring), a coin, as a penny, isrequired to be inserted through the opening 18 into the recess 118 topermit overturning of the cu for effecting delivery of its contents. Wit1 the coin/inits recess 118 in the segmental head 44,'I which isnormally stopped against more than initial turning by the tooth 144 uponit encountering the end of the lever 58 in 1its path, turning the shaft24, at the handle 25, to turn the cup-frame causes the coin carried bythe head to encounter the stud 63 lin its path, and by continued turningof the head the coin, in press ing against a cani-suface of the stud toforce it outwardly, turns he lever on its fulcrum 59 in the direction tomove its end 60 inwardly, thereby tripping it totake the shoulder 62 outof the path of the teeth 144 and 244 on the segmental head andpermitting the latter to be freely turned, that is, until sto ped byabutting against the side of the arc 20 opposite that against which itnormally abuts. In the resultant position of the cup 30 its contentsempty into the shield 21 and chute 22 and thence drop into thedelivery-dish 9, from which the operator may ather them. In attainingthis position t e cup cannot be returned to its normal position untilits delivery-movement has been completed, being lprevented by engagementof t e pawltoot 43 with a ratchettooth. When the ratchet 49, in soforwardly turning the cup, clears the pawl, and the handle 25 isreleased to permit the spring 48 by its recoil, to retract the parts tonormal position, the ratchet, in the return movement of the head 44, byengagement with the pawltooth 43, kicks and turns the pawl to extend inthe direction of inclination represented in Fig. 4, wherein its tooth 42is presented to the back of the ratchet-teeth, so that any attempt,while the parts are returning to normal position, to turn them meantimein the direction for loperating the machine is prevented by theobstruction of the pawl in engaging its tooth 42 with the back of aratchettooth. When, in forwardly turning the shaft, the inner end of thein 50 encounters the cam 38 in its path, t e pin is therebyfraudulentoperation of the machine wouldbe possible, since the operator, afteremptying the cup as the result of using .a coin, -could return it topartially register lwith .the discharge-opening from themagazine, thusto the position represented in Fig. 4, thereby permitting it to refillby holding it by the handle 25, in that position, and thereuponreversing the movement to empty the cup, and this fraudulent operationcould be repeated until the magazine was emptied. Another means isprovided, inthe second tooth 244on the head 44, for preventingfraudulent operation of the machine by the use of an annular washerinstead of a coin.

Such a Washer, of proper size, Would operate the same as a com untll, 1npassing the camstudv63, the latter' registers with the hole in thewasher, When the force of the spring 36 would turn the lever 58 toprotrudethe stud.

through the washer, thereby presenting the tooth 244 to engage with theadjacent end of the lever in the attempt to further turn the handle 25,and thus frustrating the` operat1on.

It will be observed that in the movement of the segmental head, whichmoves in frictional contact, for steadying it, with the bearing 33, itsgroove 56 rides over the stud.

63 and the pin 53, the latter being cleared by the stud in encounteringit in either direction of the movement, since the cam-end of the studoperates, in turning the head 44, to force the pin out of the-grooveagainst the resistance of the spring 55. This, however, leaves thepin,in the normal position of the parts, as an obstruction in the grooveagainst insertion, at the opening 18, of a Wire or other instrumentalong the grooveto engage the stud-equipped end ofthe lever 58 and turnit upon its fulcrum against the resistance of the spring 36 to free thesegmental 'head and permit the shaft 24 to be turned,

thereby to fraudulently operate the machine. The tongue 457 at theoppositel side of the opening 18 the recovers the entrance to the grooveto prevent insertionat that point therein of such an .instrument toengage the 'lever-end 60 and force it, against the resistance of thespring 36, to take that end out of the path of the teeth 144 and 244 andthus permit the machine to be operated Without usin a coin for thepurpose.

W iat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a vending-machine of the character 70 described, the combinationwith a hollow base provided with a delivery-dish and a magazinesurmounting and discharging to said base, of a front-plate closing thebase and containing a coin-insertion opening, Aa

rotatable handle-equi ped spring-retracted shaft journaled in sai plate,a cup on said shaft in the base, normally registering with the magazineand discharging in its inverted position to saiddish, a head on saidshaft at'80 the inner side of said plate and provided in its outer facewith a coin-recess, a spring-retracted' pin reciprocably extendingthrough said head at the coin-recess therein, a cam on the plate in theath of saidpin, and a springpressed lever fu crumed on said plate tonormally obstruct at one end movement of said head in one direction andprojecting at its opposite end into the coin-path to be tripped by theaction of the coin, for the purpose set forth. i

2. In a vending-machine of the character described, the combination witha hollow base provided with a delivery-dish and a magazine surmountingand discharging said base, of a front-plate closing the ase andcontaining a coin-insertion opening, a rotatable handle-equippedspring-retracted shaft'journaled in sai plate, a cup on said shaft inthe base, normally registering with the magazine and dispharging in itsinverted position to said dish,'a head on said shaft at the inner sideof said plate and provided in its outer face with a coin-recess, aspring-retracted head at t 1e coin-recess therein, a bar secured on theinner face of the late, an arm depending from said bar an terminating ina camin the vpath of said pin, and a springin reciprocably penetratingsaid pressed lever fulcrumed on said plate to normally obstruct at oneend movement of said head in one direction and projecting at itsopposite end into the coin-path to be tripped bythe action of the coin,for the purpose set forth. 1 4 1 3. vIn a'vending-machine of thecharacter described, the combination with a hollow base provided with adelivery-dish and a magazine surmounting and discharging to said base,of a front plate closing the base 120 and containing a coin-insertionopening, a rotatable handle-equipped spring-retracted shaft journaled insaid plate, a cup on said shaft in the base normally registering withthe magazine and discharging in its inverted position to saiu dish, ahead on said shaft at the inner side of said plate and provided in itsouter face with a coin-recess and with an arc-shaped groove intersectingthe recess, a

spring-pressed pin Vreciprocably penetrating 1.30

the head and normally projecting into the groove at one side of said oening, and a spring-pressed lever fulcrurnc( on said plate to normallyobstruct at one end movement of said head in one direction and providedat its opposite end with a cam-stud in the path ofsaid groove to beengaged by the coin to trip said lever, for the purpose set forth.

4. In a vending-machine of the character described, the combination witha hollow base provided with a delivery-dish and a ma azine surmountingand dischargin to sai base, of a front-plate closing the ase `.andcontaining a coin-insertion opening, a

rotatable han e-equi ped spring-retracted shaft journaled in sai plate,a cup on said shaft 1n the base normally registering with the magazineand discharging 1n its inverted I position to said dish, a head on saidshaft at the inner side of said plate and provided in its outer facewith a coin-recess and with an arc-shaped groove intersectin(r therecess, a s ring-pressed pin reciprocably penetrating tlie head andnormally (projecting into the groove at one side of sai opening, a lipeX- tending from the opposite side of said opening into the groove, anda spring-pressed lever fulcrumed on said plate to normally obstruct atone end movement of said head in one direction and provided at itsopposite end with a cam-stud in the path of said roove-to be engaged bythe coin to trip said ever, for the purpose set forth.

CHARLES M. LINDE. In presence of- CHAs. E. GAYLORD,

L. KIRKLAND.

